Group wants to move Atlanta NHL team here: report

A group based in Toronto is looking at purchasing the NHL's struggling Atlanta Thrashers and moving them to Winnipeg, according to a Hockey Night in Canada analyst.

Despite the report, local shinny fans hoping for the return of the National Hockey League shouldn't start budgeting for season tickets just yet. Don Waddell, executive vice-president and general manager of the Thrashers, called the reports "completely false", according to the team's website co-ordinator.

Al Strachan, an analyst on CBC's Hockey Night in Canada, said during the show's Hot Stove segment that a group of wealthy individuals in Toronto are interested in buying the team and moving it to Winnipeg to play at the downtown MTS Centre.

"There's still a lot of work to be done, but there's a lot of work that has been done already," he said during the broadcast.

MTS Centre is home to the American Hockey League's Manitoba Moose. A spokesman for Moose governor and True North Sports and Entertainment chairman Mark Chipman declined comment on the report.

Strachan said the Toronto group has a lot of money and is willing to follow the "proper channels" in buying and moving an NHL team.

Canadian Jim Balsillie recently failed in a bid to purchase the Phoenix Coyotes and move the NHL team to southern Ontario. The BlackBerry billionaire -- who has tried unsuccessfully to acquire three NHL teams -- has been accused of circumventing league rules and procedures for buying and moving a team.

ARENA 'JUST TOO SMALL'

A member of the league's board of governors confirmed the Atlanta Thrashers are one of about 10 NHL teams currently up for sale. New York Islanders owner Charles Wang, who is seeking a new arena for the team, recently said he might consider moving the franchise.

The governor, who wants to remain anonymous, told Sun Media he's heard "nothing" about the Toronto group mentioned on Hockey Night in Canada.

He said he finds it hard to believe Winnipeg could support a NHL franchise at MTS centre.

"Here's the bottom line: it's just too small," he said.

The governor added, however, that he believes Winnipeg could easily support a team with the right arena.

If the Trashers ended up moving to Winnipeg it would be the second NHL team to move from Georgia to Western Canada. The Atlanta Flames moved to Calgary following the 1979-80 season.

The Phoenix Coyotes were formerly the Winnipeg Jets before moving to Arizona after the 1995-96 season.